UNICEF and the Global Goals

UNICEF is committed to doing all it can to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in partnership with governments, civil society, business, academia and the United Nations family – and especially children and young people.

The joint evaluation assesses the extent to which the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme has accelerated the abandonment of FGM/C in 15 programme countries (2008-2012). The evaluation provides an opportunity to ensure accountability to donors and other stakeholders, and is also a useful learning exercise. The evaluation assesses the relevance, efficiency, sustainability and the effectiveness of the holistic and multi-sectoral approach adopted by UNFPA and UNICEF in their programme for the acceleration of the abandonment of FGM/C. Furthermore, it also assesses the quality of the coordination mechanisms that have been established at the global level and within countries to maximize the effectiveness of joint programme interventions. Finally, the evaluation provides recommendations for the future direction of the FGM/C policies and programmes and gives UNFPA and UNICEF insights into the successes and challenges in conducting joint programming.

The evaluation report together with the country case study reports were presented to 25 governments, parliamentarians, human rights defenders, regional intergovernmental institutions, civil society organizations as well as UNFPA and UNICEF representatives from country and regional offices at an International Conference on Female Genital Mutilations jointly organized by UNFPA and UNICEF and hosted by the Italian Government in Rome in October. The conference also explored how recommendations could be taken forward in planning phase II of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme. Joint Management Response

The case studies presented below are independent assessments of the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme support for the acceleration of the abandonment of the FGM/C in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Senegal and Sudan.

Burkina Faso Country Case Study ReportThis case study presents an independent assessment of the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme support for the acceleration of the abandonment of FGM/C in Burkina Faso. The joint programme was found to be well adapted to the cultural context. The programme has contributed to strengthening the favourable national environment for the abandonment of FGM/C, in particular through enhancing coordination in Burkina Faso among existing actors. The joint programme has also contributed to strengthening the involvement of local authorities in the abandonment of FGM/C, and to changing attitudes so that FGM/C is no longer a taboo subject. Both agencies have also projected a joint image, in Burkina Faso, with shared priorities and results. However, there are challenges, including the sustainability of results, in particular the need for follow-up of the commitments made by communities. Furthermore, whilst UNFPA, UNICEF and their partners have strategically managed the limited resources that have been made available for the joint programme, delays in the disbursement of funds and poor predictability of funding have negatively impacted on the capacity of partners to undertake long-term planning and implement activities.

Kenya Country Case Study ReportThe case study presents an independent assessment of the joint programme support to the acceleration of the abandon of FGM/C in Kenya. The joint programme was found to be highly relevant in light of national and international commitments of the Kenyan government. Moreover it has made significant contributions to strengthening the national environment for the abandonment of FGM/C. In particular, it has enhanced coordination among national and international actors working on FGM/C abandonment in Kenya, and has strengthened the national legal and policy framework, especially through its contribution to the passing of the FGM/C Act in 2011. Also, the joint programme has contributed to enhancing local-level commitment to the abandonment of FGM/C in the targeted geographic areas. Good coordination between UNFPA and UNICEF and the chosen approaches to managing the joint programme have contributed to the adequate use of available resources. Finally, the joint programme has reinforced partnerships and supported the use of promising approaches capable of being replicated or scaled up at national or community levels in Kenya. However, various factors may negatively influence the sustainability of results achieved to date. These include uncertainties related to the elections in Kenya, as well as the fact that the function of a FGM/C coordinator has not yet been institutionalized by the Government of Kenya.

Senegal Country Case Study ReportThe joint programme was found to be highly relevant to the needs, priorities and commitments in Senegal, culturally-sensitive in its design as well as aligned with the national human rights approach. The joint programme has contributed to strengthening the existing favourable political and institutional framework for the abandonment of the practice, in particular through the development of the second National Action Plan and the establishment of the national technical committee. The joint programme has helped to expand existing interventions at the local level, in particular developing capacities at community level through the TOSTAN programme, and has supported the use of media in local languages and the engagement of religious authorities in FGM/C abandonment efforts. However, challenges remain regarding sustainability, particularly the follow up of the commitments made by communities (public declarations) and the mobilisation of resources to support abandonment efforts. The joint programme has been limited by issues related to disbursement of funds, which have created challenges for implementing partners.

Sudan Country Case Study ReportThe Sudan Case Study had the following main findings.The joint programme has been relevant in view of national commitments and priorities, as well as in relation to various international commitments of the government of Sudan. Its objectives and activities have been aligned with the respective country programmes of both UNICEF and UNFPA, as well as with the 2009-2012 United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The design of the joint programme in Sudan has been appropriate in view of the specific needs and characteristics of the particular context(s) that it has been located in. The only design weakness relates to the extent to which the joint programme made provisions for the systematic monitoring and analysis of progress and influencing factors over time. The joint programme has made significant contributions to strengthening the national environment for the abandonment of FGM/C in Sudan. In particular, it has contributed to strengthening coordination among national and international actors working towards the abandonment of FGM/C in Sudan; to strengthening the legal and policy framework; and to enhancing awareness, commitment and ownership by key national actors in efforts to abandon all forms of FGM/C.The joint programme has been successful in fostering and strengthening local-level commitment to FGM/C abandonment. While many community-level achievements recorded in joint programme reports for Sudan focus on completed activities, evidence suggests that the joint programme has contributed to progress towards results. The coordination between UNFPA and UNICEF and the chosen approaches to managing the joint programme have contributed to the adequate use of available resources. Other factors that supported the implementation of the joint programme in Sudan include partnerships with religious leaders, commitment from the government of Sudan to ending FGM/C, and effective use of media. A challenge that UNICEF and UNFPA faced in view of ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources derived from its annual funding and reporting cycle. Challenges were also posed by persistent reluctance to change in some communities, and by poverty and social displacement due to conflict. The cross-cutting issues of gender equality, human rights, cultural sensitivity, and equity focus were strongly reflected in the design and implementation of the joint programme. At the same time, existing progress reports provide only limited, if any, explicit reflection on these issues.

The ongoing evaluation is conducted jointly by the Evaluation Branch at UNFPA and by the Evaluation Office at UNICEF. The joint evaluation management group is the main decision-making body for the evaluation and has the overall management oversight of the evaluation process.